Holly Burnside
MS Communication ’17
Concentration: Science Communication

Current Position: Program Manager, Center for Pediatric Clinical Effectiveness (CPCE) at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

My experience in the MS Communication program: The two courses that were particularly informative and useful for me were Science Writing and Grant Writing. The Science Writing course provided a theoretical framework for science as a process and the important role that communication plays in that process. The Grant Writing course offered practical experience in researching funding opportunities, generating ideas and writing grant proposals, which I’ve relied on regularly. Having worked in academic research support for the majority of my career, these courses became the foundation for much of what I’ve accomplished professionally.

Victoria Gant
MS Communication ’17
Concentration: Science Communication

Current Position: Writer and Editor at Taglieri Communication Services. My sole client is one of the largest business software companies in the world. I also continue to write and edit as a freelancer.

My experience in the MS in Communication program: The program gave me not only the knowledge I needed to become a good editor, but also the support to become a confident writer. At Drexel, I could focus on science communication, the professional topic that interested me most, with faculty guidance informed by real-world experience. Thanks to my work with them, including on two academic publications, I secured my first real gig as a writer in science — freelancing for GlaxoSmithKline. I also applied what I learned as a graduate student to personal interests, including the website I began as a Drexel undergrad, where I continue to chronicle life as a dog owner living in Philly (littledogbigphilly.com).

Jordan M. Hower (Gruber)
MS Communication ’17
Concentration: Public Communication

Current Position: Media Specialist, Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit

My experience in the MS in Communication program: The master's degree program at Drexel University helped me to develop and refine my media and communication skills while fulfilling my goal of achieving higher education. I was able to work full time while completing my degree, which fit with my lifestyle and allowed me to “do it all!” The professors offered expertise in several areas of communication and also flexibility with me and fellow students. I cannot wait to see what the future brings, and it's all thanks to Drexel for enabling me to move forward with full confidence in my abilities as a communications professional!

Samantha Rachko
MS Communication ’17
Concentration: Public Communication

Current Position: Life Scientist at the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

My experience in the MS in Communication program: For me, there is nothing so noble as protecting human health and the environment. As this is the mission of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, it was an obvious career choice for me. I am thankful to have such a great career match for the skills I learned through my education at Drexel. I believe that having an understanding of environmental science, policy and communication is a sort of “trifecta” for action in the environmental field. A degree in Public Communication is crucial for working in government, especially when you have to act as a liaison between the public and scientists.

Alyssa Schaber
MS Communication ’17
Concentration: Public Communication

Current Position: Employee Engagement & Volunteerism Coordinator, Community Impact Team at Comcast

My experience in the MS in Communication program: My degree allowed me to get a job with a Fortune 50 company like Comcast — right out of college.

Sara Yacoubian
MS Communication ’17
Concentration: Technical Communication

Current Position: Technical Writer for GE Digital

My experience in the MS in Communication program: The Technical Communication program opened my eyes to an entire industry in which writing is not only profitable, but also a coveted skill. During my co-op and independent studies, I learned that many very capable programmers and scientists loathe writing, or write poorly. That's where we come in; we write, edit and innovate through words rather than through code or experiments. We turn others' ideas — or sometimes our own — into colorful infographics, structured essays or easily digestible news articles. The MS COM program teaches students to be translators from jargon to plain English, tailoring each deliverable to a specific audience. The program as a whole helps students craft portfolios and pitch them to companies to convince them how much they need us. We are one of the few industries that cannot be automated, and the science and tech industries are better because of what we do.

Sarah Barner
MS Communication ’14
Concentration: Public Communication

Current Position: Program Assistant, University of San Francisco's Sport Management Master's Program

My experience in the MS in Communication program: The feedback and guidance I received from the faculty during my time in the MS COM program were invaluable. My career in higher education has benefited as a direct result of the Public Communication track, and long after graduating from the program, I continue to build and strengthen my relationships with students, faculty and members of my college community using the knowledge I gained at Drexel University.

Matthew Bretzius
MS Communication ’14
Concentration: Public Communication

Current Position: President and Partner, FischTank Marketing and PR

My experience in the MS in Communication program: The online program gave me a lot of flexibility to complete the coursework, which was great as a professional working full time.

Makane George
MS Communication ’13
Concentration: Public Communication

Current position: Senior Communication Specialist, AmeriHealth Caritas

My experience in the MS in Communication program: Drexel’s program immersed me in a vast amount of information that I had to comprehend and act on in a short amount of time. This is a skill that I use every day, as learning is the only way to advance in my career.

Stephanie Rivadeneyra
MS Communication ’12
Concentration: Public Communication

Current Position: Senior Brand Manager, Johnson & Johnson

My experience in the MS in Communication program: The MS program pushed my intellectual curiosity and the critical thinking skills required for me to be successful in my job today. I learned how to filter my goals through a framework and leverage my peers’ diversity of thought to better my ideas. Lastly, I still keep in touch with some of my peers from the MS program. The connections I built have been invaluable!

Frannie DeFranco Karchner
MS Communication ’10
Concentration: Public Communication

Current Position: Director of US Investor Relations, GlaxoSmithKline